Scholarly Article
Historical characteristics of the Croatian - Slovenian language border between the Drava and Sava rivers until the 12th century according to archaeological indicators
Filipec, Krešimir
2025-12-15 · Poznańskie Studia Slawistyczne · Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan
Abstract
There are great similarities, but also certain cultural differences between the local population along today's Croatian-Slovenian border, up until the 12th century, on the basis of existing archaeological research of well-known sites, mostly cemeteries. Burial customs and traditional clothing indicate different origins of the population in this area from the end of the 6th century, while archaeological findings also testify to strong connections among populations that shared a long common history. It is also possible that ethnic and linguistic differences existed even before the establishment and stabilization of borders between the medieval Holy Roman Empire of German Nation and Croatia, or Hungary. Settlement on both sides of the border was continuous, with some areas more densely populated, and the density and intensity of settlement fluctuating depending on political and economic circumstances. Overall, the inhabitants of the region behaved in similar ways. However, from the 12th century onward, differences began to increase due to political divisions and new waves of immigration.
Keywords
Croatia, Slovenia, border, language, archaeological finds, Hrvatska, Slovenija, granica, jezik, arheološki nalazi
Citation Details
Poznańskie Studia Slawistyczne